So, as I mentioned above, I really liked the idea of having some solid foam arm parts with openings for my hands. This way I will still have some use of my hands. I have a half finished Stormtrooper that I am still working on - so I used this same concept for the Groot forearms.
DSC_0294 by
bobby_whalen, on Flickr
The foam piece I started with was about 14" x 23".
DSC_0295 by
bobby_whalen, on Flickr
DSC_0297 by
bobby_whalen, on Flickr
I plan on wearing some gloves on my hands underneath this forearm part. I used a technique I learned from youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6Qr2UF6zm8 You cover a cotton gardening glove with silicone caulk, and then use a comb to create a pattern in the silicone. You then wait for the silicone to dry, and bam - easy wood texture.
DSC_0298 by
bobby_whalen, on Flickr
DSC_0299 by
bobby_whalen, on Flickr
DSC_0302 by
bobby_whalen, on Flickr
Next I started hot glueing the foam to create the forearm shape. This was tricky as the foam was not very cooperative. I ended up using some tape to hold the shape while the glue was drying.
DSC_0303 by
bobby_whalen, on Flickr
DSC_0304 by
bobby_whalen, on Flickr
DSC_0305 by
bobby_whalen, on Flickr
Then I used a sharpie to start freehand drawing the shape of the fingers. It took a couple of tries to get it right.
DSC_0306 by
bobby_whalen, on Flickr
DSC_0307 by
bobby_whalen, on Flickr
Now, to start adding the pipe insulation. I have never done this before, so it took me a little while to get the hang of it. With the EVA foam pieces the hot glue generally forms enough of a cure in about 45 seconds. At that point you can stop holding the two pieces together. I found that with the pipe insulation it takes closer to 65 seconds. I'm not sure why, but found this to be the case pretty consistently.
DSC_0311 by
bobby_whalen, on Flickr
A technique I learned from my Iron Man Mark VI build was that sometimes when you cut foam, the pieces will fit together better if you cut them with scissors on an angle. This will give you a flat edge to glue to another flat edge. It takes some practice, but eventually you will get the idea, and figure out which direction the cuts should be.
DSC_0312 by
bobby_whalen, on Flickr
DSC_0315 by
bobby_whalen, on Flickr
At this point I just kept adding pipe insulation pieces until it started to look right. Here are a bunch of pics.
DSC_0316 by
bobby_whalen, on Flickr
DSC_0317 by
bobby_whalen, on Flickr
DSC_0318 by
bobby_whalen, on Flickr
DSC_0320 by
bobby_whalen, on Flickr
DSC_0321 by
bobby_whalen, on Flickr
DSC_0322 by
bobby_whalen, on Flickr
DSC_0323 by
bobby_whalen, on Flickr
I quickly figured out that overlapping and angles are the keys to the right look. I have one perfectly straight piece, and it is definitely the worst looking of all the pipe insulation pieces.
DSC_0324 by
bobby_whalen, on Flickr
DSC_0325 by
bobby_whalen, on Flickr
DSC_0326 by
bobby_whalen, on Flickr
DSC_0327 by
bobby_whalen, on Flickr
To stay organized I would cut the insulation, trace it on the foam, then make the appropriate cuts to the insulation, and then glue.
DSC_0328 by
bobby_whalen, on Flickr
DSC_0329 by
bobby_whalen, on Flickr
DSC_0330 by
bobby_whalen, on Flickr
DSC_0332 by
bobby_whalen, on Flickr
DSC_0333 by
bobby_whalen, on Flickr
DSC_0335 by
bobby_whalen, on Flickr
DSC_0336 by
bobby_whalen, on Flickr
DSC_0337 by
bobby_whalen, on Flickr
On the parts where it was possible I started using clamps so I could keep moving forward while the glue was drying. I know it's only 65 seconds, but those start to add up.
DSC_0338 by
bobby_whalen, on Flickr
Finally, I added some bark details with the dremel.
DSC_0339 by
bobby_whalen, on Flickr
DSC_0342 by
bobby_whalen, on Flickr
I didn't like that I could see the diamond plate pattern on the inside of the foam, so I added a layer of craft foam to cover that.
DSC_0343 by
bobby_whalen, on Flickr
DSC_0344 by
bobby_whalen, on Flickr
DSC_0345 by
bobby_whalen, on Flickr
DSC_0346 by
bobby_whalen, on Flickr
DSC_0347 by
bobby_whalen, on Flickr
Alright, now off to bed. Zzzzzzzz